Actor Rowan Atkinson escaped injury[1] yesterday after his 230 mph sports car – said to be the most expensive car in the world – crashed into a Mini Metro.

The impact flipped[2] the Metro and its woman driver over through 90 degrees, leaving the vehicle lying[3] on its side. Margaret Greenhalgh was treated in hospital for suspected whiplash[4] injuries but wasn’t believed to be seriously hurt.

Rowan Atkinson, star of Mr Bean and The Black Adder, was travelling in a 230 mph McLaren F1, which is valued at £ 650,000 when the accident happened on the A6 in Lancashire. As he approached the village of Forton, his cherry red car smashed into the F-registered[5] Metro which was travelling in the same direction.

Atkinson, whose car was badly damaged in the crash, walked away unscathed[6] and alerted the emergency services. Witnesses noticed the 44-year-old actor was badly shaken up by the crash.

The star’s agent said: “We can confirm there was an incident which Mr Atkinson greatly regrets. He is obviously co-operating with the police.”

The Mc Laren F1 fetches[7] a price in excess of £ 600,000 because it is no longer in production and is regarded as the ultimate sports car with a 6.1 litre V12 engine which was developed by BMW.